Additional Front Cover Analysis - The Economist

 

The Economist

- Current Affairs Genre -

The front cover of this issue of the Current Affairs magazine The Economist is definitely typical of it's genre, as it gives an insight into the included stories by using the faces of the two leaders being discussed, Trump and Kim Jong-un, and displays them in an illustration that somewhat resembles a caricature. The use of a caricature, or more generally an illustration, is a very common feature as the main image on the cover of a current affairs or news related magazine, especially ones that depict political leaders. This creates a representation for the magazine and the brand that is comedic, as well as traditional and trustworthy. This means hat the magazine could appeal to an ABC1 audience.

 It can be said that the mode of address on this particular front cover is quite serious and formal, due to the main cover line: "It could happen" in a bold, sans serifed font. The reader knows that this statement is indirectly referencing the possibility of nuclear war, thus creating this very serious mode of address and tone for the rest of the magazine. The composition, layout and design of this front cover is very tidily placed, with the Masthead in the top left, the main cover line centred, the additional cover lines referencing the inside content placed orderly in the top right corner and the main image in the centre third. This layout is convenient for the readers eye to follow, and the rule of thirds has clearly been considered. This may create a representation of the brand as sophisticated and high end, perhaps therefor appealing to a middle-upper class audience. 

There are definitely intertextual references to be seen in this front cover, some more obvious than others. Direct references are made to the political leader Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, and their ongoing feud, showing the two clearly in opposition. An indirect reference, as previously mentioned is made to nuclear warfare, or more generally the possibility of war, through the Main cover line and the Main image. An intertextual reference that isn't as direct in this front cover, is the placement of the small blue bird in the bottom right hand corner. This is a reference to the Social Media platform Twitter, and could be referring to Trump's ongoing involvement with the platform, where he makes many of his controversial statements, and is involved in constant feuds and disputes with other world leaders and significant figures. This reference could be suggesting that Trump's heavy and problematic involvement with the platform, or his problematic nature in general, is much, or at least part of the reason why warfare "could happen;" tying back in with the main cover line.